Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta (2.1), 18.02 - 22.02.2015

[Dazed and Confused]

I don't trust Thomas as a climber so the race is still alive. He's blown up spectacularly before.

No way he will drop 30s on that climb with the form he has now.

Only way to make an upset now is a long range attack or some fluke break win.

 

[Shingshan]

Did Cardoso get lost or something?

 

[oliveira]

Did Cardoso get lost or something?

Manuel Cardoso had a bad tumble on stage 1..

 

[Pricey_sky]

Great TT from G! It will take a special effort from someone or him blowing up to not win now. Hopefully he carries this form into the classics over the coming weeks.

 

[Akuryo]

If Etixx decides to ride hard from the beginning ... everything could happen. They still have 3 guys in contention with Tony and Kwiato at 2nd and third but also Stybar at 8th. And Meersman, Vakoc or Golas are all capable of putting the hurt on. I don't think it is over just yet but the chances are slim. Thomas will probably take this one home. We will see.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

If Etixx decides to ride hard from the bgeginning ... everything could happen. They still have 3 guys in contention with Tony and Kwiato at 2nd and third but also Stybar at 8th. And Meersman, Vakoc or Golas are all capable of putting the hurt on. I don't think it is over just yet but the chances are slim. Thomas will probably take this one home. We will see.

Agree, aggressive and risk oriented racing is needed here. Who cares about 2nd place in the Volta?

Stage 4:

Terrain is excellent for longish range attacks.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

12 minutes of highlights from stage 2 (Taaramae and Thomas show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylf-hkill0

 

[May0maniac]

According to Twitter atm Malori is the virtual leader of the race, but he'll get buried on the final climb. He's in the breakaway with Malacarne, Gallopin, Lammertink, Gradek, Toxuperena and Filipe Cardoso.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Some quality in the break, but its not enough to put the peloton under serious pressure imo.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Panzerwagen attacked on the climb with 40 km to go. Porte took up the chase.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VAlgarve2015

 

[Akuryo]

Panzerwagen attacked on the climb with 40 km to go. Porte took up the chase.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VAlgarve2015

Now they say it is Styby.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

So Ettixx are trying to do something here. Martin in the attack again together with Golas now.

 

[Akuryo]

Now Stybar on the attack. So they try to split up the peloton for Kwiatek. I like it. Better to try and fail than just giving Thomas the jersey for free. No matter how it pans out, they raced today!

Edit: He was caught, but now attacked again with 9 to go.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Etixx are taking this petty seriously! Both Panzerwagen and Styby already attacked twice.

 

[Akuryo]

Porte takes the stage. Kwiatkowski 2nd, Jon Izaguirre 3rd.

 

[Gloin22]

Richie Porte wins. This is after working for Geraint for last 5km and already working since 50km catching Martin and various breaks according to Algarve twitter..

Wow

 

[MBotero]

Little Richie is back

 

[kenk09]

And G comes in 4th.

Shows how good the TDU was?

 

[Akuryo]

Thomas was 4th and will keep the jersey.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Wow Porte! Wasn't he leading the Sky train 40km out to chase Martin according to the ticker? Pretty impressive to still win on Malhao after that!

 

[JRanton]

Wow Porte! Wasn't he leading the Sky train 40km out to chase Martin according to the ticker? Pretty impressive to still win on Malhao after that!

Apparently so but it seems like Martin was quite quickly caught after his attack according to the twitter feed.

Malhao is like Sky's Mecca. They've raced it four times in their history and won every time (Cummings in 2011, Porte in 2012, Henao in 2013 and now Porte in 2015.

 

[roundabout]

That Michael Woods fellow seems promising

 

[jens_attacks]

cool. porte is going to paris-nice?

 

[Vasilis ho Megas]

Porte is indeed pencilled for P-N.
The GC top 10 has an interesting structure about it, certainly the latter part. My guess is Katusha will win the team classification. Anybody know anything about young rider's jersey?

 

[Bushman]

Kwiatkowski looking good. Not quite as good at this time of the year as last judging by his tt, which I believe is a good thing. Hoping he can win some races in his rainbow Jersey, LBL would be glorious.